Knap-In the the Angeles - Ancient Craft Lives

The rhythmic sound of stone against stone has a soothing tone. It’s easy to imagine a time two hundred or two thousand years ago, in the shade of a sprawling oak on a warm summer’s day, hearing these same sounds mingles with the warbling call of birds and the welcome rustle of an afternoon breeze. Plink. A decisive blow punctuates the harmony. It’s the sound of a large flake loosening from its parent stone. It’s the sound of a tool being born.

Gary Pickett has spent most of his life banging rocks together, and he’s gotten rather good at it. The former President of the Kern County Archeological Society is well known throughout the western states for his beautiful creations and his knowledge of and respect for the ancient methods that render stone into objects of function and intricate form.

What Gary is likely best known for is his willingness to teach and share the ancient art of flintknapping, and he’ll be doing that all weekend at Chilao School.

The location will be a first for Gary and his friends, many of whom will travel from Kern County to be here. But it’s absolutely not the first time flintknapping will happen in Chilao. At least five California tribes called the region their summer home, using locally available chert and importing and trading for other stone materials to make what were usually small and very sharp arrow points designed for hunting small game. Conflict resolution rarely involved the use of stone tools; dice and hand games and consultation with elders were the tools most commonly employed to settle disputes.

Everyone is welcome to this first and hopefully annual gathering of flintknappers. There is on-site tent and RV camping at Chilao School, located in Chilao Campground in the heart of the Angeles National Forest. Hiking trails abound in the region, and the USFS Chilao Visitors’ Center is just a mile and a half away.

To reach Chilao School, DO NOT USE GOOGLE. Follow written directions, and look for signs on the road. From the Los Angeles/San Fernando Valley area, take the 210 freeway to Angeles Crest Highway/Highway 2 exit. Turn north, up hill, away from the city, toward the mountains. If you immediately come to Foothill Boulevard you turned the wrong way. Go up the highway 26 miles to Chilao Road. Turn left into Chilao Campground. Follow signs to Chilao School.

From the Antelope Valley/14 freeway, exit Angeles Forest Highway. Proceed over the top of the mountain and down into a valley past Mill Creek campground. Turn left onto Upper Big Tujunga Canyon (look for either a Redbird or Knap-In sign). Take Upper Big Tujunga Canyon for 9 miles to Angeles Crest Highway. Turn left. Proceed 6 more miles to Chilao Road/Chilao Campground. Follow signs through campground to Chilao School.

You can find more information, pictures and a map on the Facebook event page:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1536469833271718/

To learn about Chilao School and other upcoming programs please visit

https://www.facebook.com/ChilaoSchool?fref=nf